Wenger hopes Henry will stay and usher in new era

Arsène Wenger revealed his hope that one of Arsenal's finest European performances will persuade Thierry Henry to stay at the club in the summer, after his wonderful solo goal led them to a priceless victory at the Bernabéu.

Arsenal outplayed Real's galácticos and could have left the Spanish capital with a greater winning margin after a performance that Wenger described as proof that a new generation of young talents are coming of age. And he pleaded with his captain to stay and lead a bright new future at Ashburton Grove.

"What more can I say about Thierry Henry?" the manager said. "I hope the quality of our young team will convince him to stay with us. We are growing and we do not want to take a step back because our best player leaves. I hope it convinces him that his future is at the club when the young boys produce a performance like that.

"I have felt for a while that this young team is flourishing. I felt that there was something coming out, and tonight we produced it. We were the sharper team and we defended well when we needed to and created danger when we wanted to. Overall, it was a very positive game. The only regret I have, maybe, is there was room for two more goals. We had the chances that we didn't take to end the tie."

Wenger's judgment was shared by both Henry and Real Madrid's David Beckham. "I knew I had to take one chance. We had some chances that we wasted in the first half and I said to myself, I have to take that chance," said the Frenchman.

"Because I scored and I'm the captain, people will put me ahead of the team but the whole team was tremendous. We were brilliant defensively. Freddie, Gilberto and Cesc were all over the pitch and some of the things the young players did at their age at the Bernabéu were amazing."

Beckham admitted that the tie could have been over, taking a small crumb of comfort that Real Madrid escaped alive. "The fact that they have only won 1-0 is a good thing for us," he said. "They could have scored one or two more tonight. They deserved it and I said during the week that if we don't perform we won't win the game. That's the way it was tonight.

"Arsenal didn't surprise me because I know that they play great football, with the manager they have got and the players they have got. I knew they would come here and try to enjoy it if they got the space - and tonight they got the space. I knew they wouldn't come here and be defensive - it's just not the way Arsène plays."

Beckham admitted he could not understand how Madrid had been so outplayed after a run of superb form that saw them rack up six successive victories. "We have got the players and the capability to win at Highbury," he added, "but we have made it hard for ourselves. Tonight was a really bad performance from the whole team - players not getting into the box, players not working for each other. And when that happens you don't win games.

"From the first minute I could tell that we weren't playing like we have been for the last two months. I can't put my finger on it but it wasn't right. We have to stay upbeat but it's hard because to perform like that in a huge game like this is disappointing after playing so well for two months."

Beckham it was who had Madrid's two best chances of the night, with Jens Lehmann twice denying him, further evidence, he said, of Madrid's poor display. "It's not that often I'm in that position and maybe I should have done better with one of them but it wasn't meant to be," he said.

The England captain also expressed his sorrow at seeing his compatriot Jonathan Woodgate depart injured with a torn hamstring after only nine minutes. "It's devastating really. It is terrible for him personally," he said.